Blood-Forged

“MURDERERS!” The bathhouse attendant girl, Raan, screamed out from her place kneeling by the body the demon had vacated. She was pressing her hands to his throat to staunch the bleeding that wasn’t fucking happening.

I vaguely remembered the little shit saying something about the demon's body being her boyfriend. I laughed at her, a headache forming around my temples and behind my eyes. “He’s been dead for a long fucking time. Look, there isn’t even any blood left in his body, the demon absorbed every last drop.” I took a step towards her, my eyes shifting to Gale laying on the stage, unmoving.

Her eyes followed mine. Before I could do anything, she lunged for Gale, pulling a large kitchen knife from behind her back. She pointed it right under the base of his skull and screamed, “I’ll kill him! I’ll kill him! Don’t move!”

I paused, one foot hovering in the air, “what do you expect to accomplish?” I let my foot land, “resurrecting some months dead poor bastard isn’t in our list of skills.” I took a step forward, the girl tensed, “we saved you all from a demon. We deserve some fucking gratitude instead of this,” I threw my hand up at her and took another step forward.

“Uh... Blood-Forged?” Night Loversaid behind me but I didn’t spare any thought to reading his tone or stopping to listen to him.

The girl raised the knife and raised her voice, “I’ll do it! I’ll kill him!”

“And then I’ll kill you and anyone else who jumps on here to perform a parody of revenge!” I raised my voice so the whole crowd gathered could hear me. I took another step forward.

The girl breathed hard, her shoulders heaving, her face red. With both hands on the hilt of her knife, she lifted it, torchlight glinting off the blade as it shook. I took another step forward. She plunged the knife downwards. I lunged forward to grab her...

I was still too far away...

“Stop!”

And she did. Her brows screwed together in consternation. I grabbed her by the collar and lifted her off of Gale. “Drop it.” With a yelp, she let go of the knife and it clattered uselessly to the stage floor.

She grabbed my forearm with both hands and glared into my eyes, “I’ll kill you,” she forced out through gritted teeth.

“Good luck with that.” With a grunt and all the strength I could muster, I threw her to the crowd. She hit the edge of the stage and rolled off.

I scanned the faces of the crowd, searching for Death-Bringer. The expressions of the villagers ranged from angry to scared to confused; not a single one of them grateful or happy. Blood was starting to roar in my ears. “Death-Bringer!” I called, unable to find her.

“Right here!” She climbed up onto the stage, face black and blue and bloody but movement unimpeded. She crouched down in front of Gale’s prone form. I crouched as well, keeping one eye on the crowd.

Gale’s eyes slowly moved, “ ‘sover...?” he croaked out.

“Yes, the demon’s gone,” Death-Bringer placed her palm on his forehead as if to check for a fever then combed her fingers through his hair. His eyes slid shut and there was a flash of light. I flinched and when I looked back Gale was gone.

Swaddled in the tattered remains of his clothes, was the blade wielded by Swordmaster Eun.